Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

A Pacific cold front will cross into the interior today (Friday) and tomorrow with a moderate amount of precipitation. Upper elevations may receive 15 to 20 cm of snow along with strong South winds. Freezing level will  rise to close to 2000m Friday then begin a slow descent to valley bottom by  Sunday morning. For more in-depth information see:http://www.avalanche.ca/weather

Commercial operators closer to the coast are reporting up to 50cm of new snow in the past 24hrs with rain up to treeline and above.  Limited observations due to low cloud from this storm.  No avalanches observed.

Incoming precipitation  will add additional  load to the already reactive wind slabs in lee terrain at treeline and into the alpine. Snow and winds from earlier in the week have added size and destructive potential to the developing wind slab problem. There are a variety of interfaces including old wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets buried below the recent storm snow. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found and could possibly be triggered with a big enough load such as a cornice failure. Cornices are now getting to be large and potentially unstable. Solar aspects are also a concern, especially in the afternoon.  There is  concern for the combination of new snow load, strong winds and rapidly rising temperatures.